Based on the popular TVB show Old Time Buddy, this
film parodies Hong Kong's golden age of film. Gallen Law,
Francis Ng, and Maggie Cheung Ho-Yi return from the TV show,
while Jessica Suen is replaced by Shu Qi as Shu Fong-Fong.
The film offers a new twist, though.
The main protagonist is now a famous HK director named Wong
Jing Wai (Dayo Wong), who’s sent back in time to 1967 as penance
for his new-wave snobbery. There he must help the four Cantonese
stars achieve their legendary status - and only after he makes
a movie that someone likes can he return to the present.
Knowledge of Cantonese movies from
the sixties is a must for full understanding of this flick.
For example: knowing that Gallen Law is parodying Lui Kei
(the same actor that Tony Leung Ka-Fai parodied in La Legendary
Rose Noire) adds to the funny factor, but having to be
explained that little fact does nothing for the film. Sadly,
Trivial Pursuit-like knowledge seems necessary, because without
it the film would be revealed as a cheap, crude, and poorly
directed mess (which it very well may be).
The modern HK Cinema fan can get
some enjoyment from the Wong Kar-Wai asides, which reimagines
the HK auteur's filmography featuring the stars of old. Special
credit goes to Law Kar-Ying's portrayal of Kwan Tak-Hing,
the famous actor who played Wong Fei-Hong. Having Wong Jing
Wai put him in a gay kung-fu flick (a dig at Happy Together)
is the film's best joke.
However, that joke is only one of
plenty that litter the film, and it's probably the most accessible.
Speaking from a non-native Hong Kong perspective, this movie
is a probable head-scratcher, but Hong Kong audiences who
get the jokes may be able to escape with a good time. (Kozo
1997) |